Orban has jumped the shark. He’s so threatened by Peter Magyar. He’s so mad that someone might be more popular than him. He’s so pissed that his minions can’t quash him that he has taken matters into his own hands in the most unedifying of ways.
During his speech at the March 15th commemoration of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, he basically called opponents stink bugs that have survived winter and need to be annihilated in spring.
The exact quote is:
“A mai ünnepi összesereglés után jön a húsvéti nagytakarítás: átteleltek a poloskák. Felszámoljuk a pénzügyi gépezetet, amely korrupt dollárokból vásárolt meg politikusokat, bírókat, újságírókat, álcivil szervezeteket és politikai aktivistákat” — Viktor Orban, 15 March 2025
Which translates to:
“After today’s commemorative gathering comes Easter spring cleaning: The stink bugs have overwintered. We will dismantle the financial machinery that used corrupt dollars to buy politicians, judges, journalists, fake civil organisations, and political activists.” — Viktor Orban, 15 March 2025
Why did Orban use the word "poloska"?
Poloska is the Hungarian word for brown stink bug — a pesky bug that’s common in Hungary and releases a smell as a defence mechanism. But poloska is also the word for a covert listening device — a bug.
Peter has been called “Poloska Pete” since he released a secret recording that he took of this then wife and Justice Minister Judit Varga, whereby she revealed examples of the corruption at the heart of the Hungarian government and justice system.
Orban knew that using the word poloska during his speech would be like red meat to his base who are all too happy to call Peter a “bug.”
While Orban usually tries to remain statesmanly and aloof while letting his minions get their hands dirty with the name calling, this was Orban announcing that he is jumping in the fray and that it’s time to go hard against Peter.
Where Orban went wrong
Orban butchered the execution though because in not limiting the bug reference to just Peter (not that that’s any better by the way) and listing judges, journalists, activists etc in his long list of “stink bugs” he essentially called fellow Hungarian citizens bugs. What kind of Prime Minister does that? One who is clearly losing grip on reality in his total arrogance and disdain for his fellow countrymen.
By expanding the list, it reminds you of Hillary Clinton when she called Trump supporters “deplorables.” It didn’t work well out well for Hillary, and Orban, too, might find that he overplayed his hand in a fit of frustration. Needless to say, dehumanising your political opponents and literally titling them as an insect is even worse that calling them deplorables, and is a worrying sign of things to come should Orban start spiralling.
Within 2 days of the speech Viktor Orban put a Facebook post up in his defence saying: “Why a bug? Because he secretly recorded his wife. If he hadn’t have done that we wouldn’t call him a bug.” (Original: “Miért poloska? Mert lehallgatta a feleségét. Ha nem hallgatta volna le, nem hívnák így.”)
As they say, in politics if you’re explaining you’re losing.
The fact that Orban felt he had to explain his statement re-write it to refer to just one person not a long list of professions shows that his statement was received as expected. Why? Because I think even a lot of Fidesz supporters would have scrunched their nose at Orban stooping so low.
Je suis poloska!?
The response was swift. An army of Peter’s supporters online…as well as just normal everyday people who don’t appreciate being referred to as bugs…started saying things like “Je suis poloska!” or posting photos of bugs waving the Hungarian flag and saying “I survived winter!” A cake shop in Hódmezővásárhely started selling an orange slice with an image of a poloska on it eating an orange muffin (orange is the colour of Fidesz). People shared a meme of a poloska bug devouring a moldy orange.
I’ll be curious what the next few polls say — I don’t think it will have won Orban any new support and I’m sure it will have alienated some voters who find this way of politicking all too gross and disgusting.
What really counts though is the 2026 election….when it could be that Orban discovers that poloska bugs are pesky little things… impossible to eradicate and absolutely everywhere.
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